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Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Why Handmade Matters – A Look at How We Handcraft Our Products

We live in a world where many things are mass produced. Not that there is anything necessarily wrong with that. It’s great that some things are manufactured in massive quantities in order to fill a worldwide demand for them. But it’s also wonderful that more people everywhere are beginning to appreciate things that are made by hand in small quantities. In case you hadn’t heard, all of our leather, leatherette and vinyl products here at Ministry Ideaz are handcrafted one at a time using Old World techniques.

Let’s take a look at 4 reasons why handmade matters:

1. It’s Human Nature to Value the Creative Spirit

When you make something, you leave a part of yourself in it. When you are finished creating, you take pride in the work partly because you see yourself in it. When you buy something someone else made, you find yourself reflected in that purchase. Whether it’s the color, the texture, the shape, or just the mood you happen to be in, an item crafted as an expression of the creative spirit of the person who made it is treasured and valued far beyond a piece made for worldly mass consumption.

2. Handmade Items are Crafted in an Environment of Joy, Honor, and Respect

Did you ever receive a hand knit sweater or blanket from your grandma? Have you ever studied the workspace of that person as she knits? She creates in a space of joy, honor, and respect, doesn’t she? Those same values somehow find their way into the very fiber of a handmade item. Every inch of the yarn that forms a hand knit garment once flowed through the fingers of the Maker who knit the garment with intention and purpose. Who wouldn’t take extra special care of such an item?

3. A Handmade Item Cannot be Duplicated

No two handmade items are exactly alike. Variations in color, shading, texture, shape and grain are inherent in a handmade item. No two items are alike so that every single one is one-of-a-kind. That means that every handmade item you purchase is also one-of-a-kind. What’s not to like about that!

4. It’s More Beautiful When Made with the Heart

You can serve your guests a frozen, mass produced pound cake or you can treat them to the one your mom made. The frozen one will do in a pinch, but only the one your mom made will touch the very heart of your guests.

Please view the following short video clip of us handcrafting one of our Bible covers. The entire process takes about an hour:

That’s why handmade matters. Have you found something wonderful that was handmade, either at MinistryIdeaz.com or elsewhere? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Why do you think handmade matters? We’d love to hear from you! Please write us in the comments below.

14 comments:

Great article! I totally support handmade. It might cost more, but the investment in your brand is worth it. If you want to give the impression you’re high quality, choose high quality, and handmade items from Ministry Ideaz!

Great feedback, thanks! Indeed, the higher price is a reflection of the quality. Sad to say, at times we get negative feedback from folks that expect us to give garage sale prices. :'( With all the work that goes into our products, we just can’t.

I make handmade fabric purses. it is a long process, the hours put in each creation is endless and tiring. Each person behind each part is doing a tremendous job, I see the twinkle in their eyes when I see the finished product. Then a machine made synthetic product comes and snatches away that twinkle, that exuberance. I urge each of you encourage handmade products, it puts food on the table of many, sends a few to school, smiles on the faces of all.

Some of my *most* treasured items are the ones my children have made for me. Not because they are my children, but because of the thought, care, creativity, and sheer *love* that went into them.Be it the hand print fridge ornament made in kindergarten or the collapsible camping table made in grade 11 shop class, each gift was well thought out to be useful or to suit MY likes and there isn’t enough of anything in the world that can commercially replace THAT.

I agree about the creative part of it. I think that humans are here to create. And what better way to support them than to buy their products. It is nice that there are now websites like Etsy that supports handmade artists.

Love the quality and the uniqueness of handmade pieces I have received and bought over the years. I also love the fact that more often than not when I buy hand produced items I am helping a small business owner make a living :)

I too love handmade articles. I have made hundreds of items many of which have been sent to many countries around the world. Your so right about people wanting garage sale prices. Then you have those you gift them to and you find they aren't taken care of and that really hurts. Fortunately, in the new system, everyone will appreciate all the handmade stuff because it will all be handmade!

Dear Brother,I am very happy with my order that I received two weeks ago. I could not get into my e-mail to send you my gratitude immediately. So I am just now responding.

I LOVE MY THINGS!!! I am so very pleased. I started using them that very day. I sent one of the Workbook Companions I ordered to our fellow sister who is also my cousin and a pioneer. She just got it and immediately started putting it to use. She is a VERY happy sister, also. Thank you for having such wonderful products to help us be more organized. I also received a pocket sized calender booklet in my order. I thought it was something you give with the booklet order catalog you enclosed. It was not until this morning that I saw a price on the back. I did not pay for that. If it was a mistake put into my order, I will gladly pay for it since I wrote in it. If it is a gift THANK YOU ahead of time.Regarding my $20 gift certificate. THANK YOU THANK YOU!! I have my eye on some things for my teenagers. I will talk to them about colors & which product they think will work best for them. Then, I will place an order soon before the date expires.

I just wanted to thank you all for such impressive, durable and good looking products. I have been ordering for some years now, and you just continue to out-do yourselves with your products for the friends worldwide. How comforting to watch the video of the meticulous assembly of our bible covers. Thank you so much for all that you do for our Worldwide Brotherhood. Continue in the work as need-greaters and may Jehovah continue to bless the efforts you put forth.Unitedly,Your Sister Dawn J.